Rachael is a name of Hebrew origin, meaning "ewe" or "female sheep." It is a variant spelling of Rachel, which also shares the same meaning. The name gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the 20th century and has since been widely used.
The name Rachael consists of three syllables: Ra-chael. It begins with the sound /ra/ as in "rah" and ends with the sound /l/ as in "lame." The middle syllable, "-chae," is pronounced /kay/. When written, it can sometimes be confused with Rachel or other similar spellings like Rochelle or Rechel.
Rachael has been used consistently throughout history but its popularity peaked in the 1980s and 1990s. In the United States, for instance, it ranked among the top 500 names for girls between 1974 and 2003, with its highest ranking being number 186 in 1993.
Notable people named Rachael include Rachael Griffith, an Australian actress best known for her role in "Muriel's Wedding," and Rachael Ray, a popular American television personality, chef, and author. Both of these figures have contributed to the name's familiarity and recognition in contemporary culture.
The name Rachael experienced significant popularity during the late 1970s and early 1980s, with peaks of over 10 births per year between 1979 and 1983. However, its usage has declined significantly since then, with fewer than 10 births recorded annually after 1985.